Theresa May risks defeat on Great Repeal Bill after inserting clause to quit Charter of Fundamental Rights

Theresa May faces possible defeat on the defining issue
of her premiership.Labour say they will vote against the "Great Repeal
Bill" unless May makes six changes.Tory rebellions likely on most significant legislation
of this parliament.Brexit Secretary David Davis to publish the bill later
on Thursday.

LONDON - Theresa May's Repeal Bill, designed to withdraw Britain
from all EU law, could be defeated after it's publication reveals
that it includes a clause to remove Britain from the Charter of
Fundamental Rights.

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Incorporation of the charter, as part of the bill, is one of six
requirements for Labour's support of the bill and is likely to
prove controversial with some Conservative backbenchers.

The Brexit secretary David Davis on Thursday
published the European Union (Withdrawal) Bill, formerly
known as "The Great Repeal Bill".

The bill is designed to repeal and replace all laws and
regulations relying upon Britain's membership of the EU before
Britain leaves in 2019 and is one of the most significant pieces
of legislation planned this parliament.

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However, Labour today demanded six changes to the bill in order
to guarantee their support. With Conservative rebellions on
aspects of the bill highly likely, May is facing possible defeat
on the defining issue of her premiership.

Failure to pass the bill would lead to major regulatory and legal
uncertainty and calls for Britain's two-year process for leaving
the 28-nation bloc to be delayed.

Labour's shadow Brexit secretary told
The Guardian that the party could not support the bill in is
current form.

He has demanded six concessions from the government, including:

Guarantees that workers' rights in Britain do not fall behind
those in the EU.
That the European Charter of Fundamental Rights is
incorporated into UK law.
That widespread "Henry VIII" powers contained within the bill
allowing the government to rewrite decades of UK law are
restricted.

The second demand will cause a clash with Labour. Incorporating
the charter into UK law is explicitly ruled out in the
legislation.

The bill has been
described as a "political power grab" due to the widespread
powers it hands the government to rewrite the UK's entire legal
and regulatory framework without parliamentary scrutiny.

Starmer said he was putting May "on notice" that she must give
ground on the bill.

"Nobody is seeking to frustrate the process," he insisted.

"We are determined to ensure that the right approach is taken,
and this is all about protecting the rights of citizens in
Britain."

He added: "I haven't seen any evidence that the prime minister
has reflected on the outcome of the general election and
indicated a willingness to change her approach to Brexit. On the
contrary, she has reinforced the approach that she took to the
electorate."

Liberal Democrat leader Tim Farron said his party would join
Labour in giving May "hell" on the bill.

Parliament is due to go on its summer recess next week with votes
on the Great Repeal Bill not due until autumn. The repeal bill is
the first of eight Brexit-related bills May hopes to pass this
parliament.

Other highly controversial legislation
planned by May include her plans to take Britain out of the
single market and customs union, as well as a bill which will set
out Britain's immigration system post-Brexit.